Did you know that native plants like California sagebrush, coast live oak, and California buckwheat play a crucial role in the health of the Carmel River Watershed? 🌱 These plants help stabilize soil, filter runoff, and prevent erosion, all while supporting the river’s water quality. Plus, they provide essential habitat for local wildlife, including birds, pollinators, and even endangered species like the steelhead trout.
As you explore the Carmel River, look for these native plants in action! Have you spotted any California sagebrush swaying in the breeze or a towering coast live oak providing shade? Share your photos with us and tag @CarmelRiverWatershed to show how you #DiscoverCarmelRiver through its incredible native plant life.
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One way I #DiscoverCarmelRiver is through the stories and artwork that celebrate the journey of our watershed.
Local artist and community activist Paola Berthoin captures the essence of the Carmel River in her book Passion for Place: Community Reflections on the Carmel River Watershed. This extraordinary collection of poetry, stories, paintings, and photographs brings us deep into the heart of the watershed, showcasing the voices of our community. You can find this book and others at our local independent bookstore, River House Books at Carmel Crossroads (@riverhousebooks ). For a broader perspective, I turn to Down the Soundless Sea by Thomas Steinbeck, which views the Carmel River watershed as part of a larger region. Like his well known father, John Steinbeck, Thomas pulls readers into the story with his captivating writing style. River in Ruin offers a cautionary tale about the consequences of poor water management and the hope for restoration. It dispels myths about water use and shows how clearing riverbanks of native vegetation can actually increase wildfire risk. Thanks to efforts by the CRWC and partners in the Carmel River Task Force, working with the Monterey County Water Management District, One Water, and CalAm, we've made significant strides in restoring the river. To learn more about watershed health, I dive into Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge by Erica Gies. This insightful book, written by a National Geographic Explorer, offers a readable guide on managing water for resilience against fire, floods, and drought. I'm thrilled to announce that Erica will be speaking at our California Wildlife Day on April 6, 2025! Read the book and join us to hear from the author this spring. When you can't get outside to #DiscoverCarmelRiver, a good book is the next best thing! As Executive Director for the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, I’ve recently participated in several meetings that reveal a deep misunderstanding of the role of the Carmel River Watershed in regional water supply issues. In a meeting discussing the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) from the State Water Board, which has limited the historic over pumping of the Carmel River, one participant said of the CDO, “we did this just to protect some frogs”. This perspective is one heard frequently, suggesting that we need to put people first versus the biodiversity needs of the watershed. One presenter showed slides with an earlier version of the watershed with denuded banks strewn with tires versus today’s verdant, willow covered banks. But the rapid re-growth of vegetation does not fully convey the health of the watershed. A healthy watershed provides for both people and animals, while supplying water for beneficial uses. And it is critical that we learn to balance these needs so that we can all live within our ecological means.
For more than 24 years the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy (CRWC) has supported options that grow our water supply alongside our advocacy for river restoration, such as One Water recycled water and the projected desalination plant. Simultaneously, we continue to educate communities on how land stewardship and water conservation practices mitigate the dangers of fire, flood, and drought. A healthy watershed leads to healthy, resilient communities. It is not an us versus them relationship. Just days before the CDO meeting, I met with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) and a concerned homeowner that showed us a section of the river in which the riparian zone had been razed of vegetation – despite the management company responsible having been advised by the MPWMD that such an action is against County, State, and Federal riparian zone regulations. This vegetation has a critical role not only in protecting the habitat of threatened species, but also for safeguarding the community from fire, flood, and drought. With MPWMD’s direction, they now need to restore this area to its natural functioning. Yet often the perspective is that costly and burdensome regulations get in the way of people’s enjoyment of the land. Why not replace the messy native vegetation with a new pickle ball court? The vegetation in the riparian corridor performs many critical functions. Without it, stormwater simply runs off rapidly towards the ocean. Vegetation slows the water down, allowing it to sink into the land and the aquifer, which recharges the groundwater and keeping the area moist, even during dry periods. This riparian corridor is a powerful break against fire as the relatively moist vegetation slows and stops fires. The CRWC Watershed Health Report Card project with Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) this year is focusing on the relationship between fire and the watershed. In mapping the burn areas as far back as 1911, the data shows that the areas of healthy riparian corridor serve as a moist fire buffer, a natural fire break. Porous soil expands the capacity of the watershed to hold more water, leading to more stormwater storage that aids in both flood and drought periods. In many urban areas they are implementing these practices, calling successful models “sponge cities.” By slowing the water and encouraging it to sink, we recharge the ground and the aquifer beneath it, storing water for future needs. Practices to Slow it, Sink it, Store it, mimic natural systems to create a watershed resilient for both threatened species and humans. And while the CDO along with work on the watershed by the CRWC and collaborating agencies has led to significant restoration, pretty pictures of willows do not tell the whole story. Our watershed report card follows a series of health metrics on the river; each with a potential score of 100. A restored river would have all health metrics at 80 or above. At this time the average is 67, brought down significantly by the low numbers on threatened species. The steelhead rating is currently at 12 out of 100. The example provided earlier of a community thoughtlessly destroying a section of riparian corridor shows how easily habitat is destroyed in just a day, having a destructive effect against years of effort. We need shift this conversation so that communities understand that protecting the health of the watershed protects the health of the community as well. It is not either-or situation. Where does re-framing this debate take us in the question of water supply? Prior to the CDO, area water agencies did little to look for or establish new water supplies. The CDO caused water agencies to work together to create the recycled water program, to create regulations encouraging conservation and natural systems instead of acres of lawn, and to explore alternatives such as desalination. This is not to say that the CDO must remain in place indefinitely. The water board criteria for releasing the CDO is simple – the data needs to show that a permanent water supply is assured to replace the Carmel River over pumping and meet demand. A reasonable guideline. This data has yet to be proven to the Water Board. But when the CDO is lifted, what then? While the argument is that we need the CDO to be lifted for affordable housing and civic needs such as a new fire station, what is in place to ensure that the likely surge of pent-up demand for new water connections doesn’t exceed supply or go towards wasteful discretionary uses. While there are challenges created by the CDO, it makes sense not to let demand surge without water availability to meet it. This brings us to the question of demand and the politically challenging question of looking at how our water is used. Is the debate frogs versus humans? What if the true battle is man against our capacity for change – changes in habits, lifestyle, or regional perspective? The slow water movement, employing the principles of slow it, sink it, store it, provides guidelines for ways each of us can improve our stewardship of water and land use. Where can residents and landowners learn how to employ these methods? Watershed Wise Webinars are offered for free, sponsored by the MPWMD, CalAm, and the WaterAwareness Committee of Monterey. In collaboration, the CRWC is developing materials and opportunities to learn about these land use methods from stormwater capture to rain gardens, thoughtful use of native plants, and groundwater recharge. We have arranged for National Geographic Explorer and author of Water Always Wins, Erica Gies, to present at California Wildlife Day on April 6th 2025. We are launching a series of Science Uncorked programs to help us learn new approaches to water practices, all while enjoying wine from our watershed! Let’s retire the man vs frog battle and develop an integrative approach that favors a range of solutions to support the health and vitality of all inhabitants of the watershed and the communities that depend on it. The view across the Carmel River Valley is shrouded in fog today, a natural shield protecting us from extreme heat as the rest of California swelters. We've always heard that inland heat pulls moisture from the ocean, bringing rain as the water vapor travels over land. However, scientist Anastasis Makarieva's biotic pump theory reveals that forests actively draw in the rain they need. Trees aren't just passive recipients of weather; their transpiration processes within clouds gather and release rain, replenishing our watershed. As water moves through trees and into the soil, it sustains our environment and helps prevent fires. While some advocate for cutting trees and native vegetation to reduce fire risk, watershed science shows the importance of maintaining these natural systems. Keeping beneficial native vegetation in place helps hold water in the system, providing crucial fire prevention and water resources.
The Los Padres Dam has long shaped the Carmel River, but its future is now a topic of debate. While the removal of the San Clemente Dam marked a significant milestone, the next steps for Los Padres are still under consideration. As dams age, they fill with silt and become less effective, making rehabilitation costly compared to removal. However, removing the dam would eliminate our ability to release water during dry months and support firefighting efforts.
There are compelling arguments on both sides of this important discussion. The latest study on the Los Padres Dam is now available on the MPWMD website, and public comments are welcomed. Your voice matters in shaping the future of our river. The Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility, operated by the Monterey Peninsula Water Management, plays a crucial role in conserving our steelhead population. During the summer dry months, juvenile steelhead are rescued from the lower Carmel River and brought to the facility. Here, water is pumped from the river, cleaned, cooled, and circulated to keep the fish healthy until their re-release. Fish are typically held from early summer to late fall, depending on river flow and weather conditions. Once river flow returns, the fish are recaptured, counted, and released back into the river. To date, nearly 100,000 healthy steelhead have been successfully reared and released from the facility. Despite these efforts, annual steelhead counts show that the population remains threatened. Together, we continue to work towards improving habitat conditions and bringing this keystone species back. Did you know that the striped bass found along Carmel’s coast and in the Carmel River originally came from New Jersey? In 1879, California Fish and Wildlife transported 132 small bass from the Navesink River by rail and released them near Martinez. These bass have thrived and are now considered invasive in the Carmel River, preying on the endangered juvenile steelhead. This month, the Carmel Steelhead Association is conducting a survey to understand the striped bass diet and their impact on our river. With permits from state and federal agencies, volunteer fishermen are fly fishing for bass outside the legal fishing season. Researchers weigh and measure each fish, take scale samples, and examine stomach contents for DNA testing. This morning, we found an intact fish spine, a small mouse, and tiny crabs. Testing will reveal if steelhead DNA is present. Interestingly, a fish’s scales can tell its life story, much like tree rings. The lines within the scales indicate the fish’s age and whether it spent time in saltwater or freshwater. It’s estimated that 300-400 striped bass are currently in the Carmel River, but fishing for bass is only allowed during the open season, which varies from November/December to February/March depending on flows. Some believe year-round bass fishing would benefit the endangered steelhead, while others worry it could lead to year-round steelhead fishing, undermining conservation efforts. This study will provide crucial data on the striped bass’s eating habits and their impact on steelhead. During the winter season, steelhead fishing is catch-and-release from the mouth of the river up to Rosie’s Bridge on Esqualine Road, with the section from Los Padres Dam to the bridge always closed to protect juvenile and spawning fish. The Santa Lucia Conservancy Environmental Education Program, supported by the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy, has seen significant achievements in the first half of 2024. With 55 school classes conducted at Portrero Canyon and a total of 1,338 participants, the program delivered an enriching curriculum that integrates science, natural history, and the arts. This immersive educational approach, which is compliant with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), not only enhances ecological literacy but also instills principles of environmental stewardship and social-emotional learning. In an effort to make nature education accessible to all, nearly half of the classes this year were from underserved schools, with seven benefiting from transportation reimbursements provided through bussing scholarships. This inclusivity initiative ensures that students from diverse backgrounds can experience and learn from the natural world. This year, a new Restoration Ecology Stewardship initiative was introduced for students in grades 8-12, aimed at restoring the riparian old-growth redwood ecosystem in Potrero Canyon. The program educates participants about the impacts of fire suppression and invasive species on ecosystem health, serving as an educational tool to inspire environmental restoration efforts. The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is seeking public feedback on their draft order on the Vegetation and Sediment Activities for Fire Fuel Reduction and Flood Control across the Central Coast Region. This is an opportunity to review and comment on measures aimed at enhancing fire safety and flood management. Access the PDF here or view more info online.
Submit Your Comments: The deadline for written comments is 5:00 PM on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Please send your feedback electronically to April Woods at [email protected], or by mail to: Central Coast Water Board, 401 Water Quality Certification Program, 895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. A public meeting to discuss the draft order will be scheduled soon, and we will provide details as they become available. The long-awaited Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) for the Carmel River Lagoon and Scenic Road was released this past spring, receiving mixed reviews. Much of the text from the 2016 DEIR was incorporated, rendering the conclusions and recommendations unclear and confusing. The County's "preferred project" remains uncertain, despite the evaluation of dozens of alternative solutions. The County appears to favor installing a protective structure along the Scenic Road bluffs to prevent further erosion beneath this scenic and heavily used roadway. However, further clarification is needed regarding the placement, length, and height of the wall. The solutions for the periodic flooding from the Lagoon are even more puzzling, as none of the proposed alternatives seem realistic or attainable. Fortunately, a team led by Supervisor-Elect Kate Daniels, comprising legislative staff members, is already collaborating with the various governmental agencies involved. Their goal is to refine the conclusions sufficiently to present them to the County Board of Supervisors this fall. We wish them success in this challenging endeavor!
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